Lockout/Tagout Policy

Policy Statement

The College of Saint Benedict requires that all colleges, departments, centers, institutes, or businesses within the college community establish and fulfill requirements for affixing the appropriate lockout/tagout signage and locks to energy isolating devices, and to otherwise disable machines, equipment or processes to prevent unexpected energizing, start-up, or the release of stored electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other energy.

This policy is specifically intended to prevent injuries to employees/users engaged in service or maintenance activities of machines, equipment, or processes where the release of stored energy may put them at serious risk. This policy establishes compliance with OSHA 29CFR 1910.147.

The College of Saint Benedict strives to prevent injury to employees/users engaged in service or maintenance activities of machines, equipment, or processes where the release of energy may put them at serious risk. Examples of such machinery or equipment include but are not limited to autoclaves, boilers, elevators, and fan systems.

Work situations where unexpected energization or start-up can occur include new construction, installation or set-up of equipment, and the adjustment, inspection, maintenance, repair, and service of machines and equipment.

Energy types to be considered include electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, and thermal.

A General Lockout Procedure has been written and incorporated along with this Policy. Both items are required to be in place in order to have an effective lockout program. This procedure establishes the minimum guidelines for conducting lockout activities.

The Environmental, Health and Safety Officer will be responsible for training to all authorized employees/users to ensure that the purpose and function of the energy control procedures are understood. This training will cover the knowledge and skills necessary for the safe application, usage, and removal of the energy controls that are required. Training sessions will be offered on an annual basis.

Each department will be responsible for providing specific training to their employees/users for their respective areas of responsibility that includes:

Retraining of authorized employees/users whenever there is a change in energy control procedures, assignments, equipment or a new hazard is encountered;

Annual job specific retraining of authorized employees/users;

Instruction to affected employees/users in the purpose and procedure of energy control;

Instruction of all other employees/users who work in the area in the procedure and the prohibitions for attempting to restart equipment that has been locked out and/or tagged out;

Instruction of all other employees/users in the use and limitations of the tagout system.

The Environmental, Health and Safety Officer will conduct periodic inspections of the Lockout/Tagout Policy procedures during building inspections to ensure that the energy control procedures and requirements are being followed. Additionally, the Department Head must correct any inadequacies in and/or deviations from the procedure noted during periodic inspection.

Each person has a role in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. In relation to this policy, the following responsibilities exist for employees, department heads, and the Environmental, Health and Safety Officer.

Employees

Read and understand this Policy.

Read and understand the General Lockout Procedure

Read and understand applicable specific Lockout Procedures.

Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked out. Tagout devices may be used in lieu of lockout devices ONLY IF the tagout program provides employee protection equivalent to that provided through a lockout program.

Department Head

In addition to the above items,

Communicate the provisions of the Policy to all staff.

Maintain written procedures for applicable equipment and review annually.

Provide specific training for equipment in your areas of responsibility.

Ensure that new or overhauled equipment is capable of being locked out.

Complete compliance forms associated with General Lockout Procedure.

Ensure that lockout/tagout devices identify the individual users.

Environmental, Health and Safety Officer

Support the implementation of this Policy.

Provide initial training to all employees/users.

Inspect applicable buildings periodically.

Develop, implement and enforce an effective tagout program if machines or equipment are not capable of being locked out.

This policy will be reviewed annually and changes made as necessary for compliance with health and safety regulations.